Parents:
- John Katonak [1914–1969]
- Esther (Geller) Lorcher [1917–1986]
Married Richard Gerard Wallace on September 24, 1960 in Norwalk, OH. {Div. 2008}
Children:
- Mark Alan Wallace [b. 1963]
- Glenn Richard Wallace [b. 1964]
- Teresa Marie Wallace [b. 1965]
- Dawn Elizabeth Wallace [b. 1966]
Obituary
Frederick News-Post, January 17 2024
Esther (Katonak) Wallace —Marie to all who knew and loved her— 85, departed on January 15, 2024 and now soars through the universe that she has always felt a strong connection to.
Born to the late John and Esther (Geller) Katonak on July 11, 1938 in Lorain, Ohio, she was the last surviving member of her family and now joins her sisters, Georgian, Katherine, and Lorraine.
She enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1958 and served as a Medical Administrative Specialist at Westover AFB in Massachusetts.
She married Richard Gerard Wallace on September 24, 1960 in Norwalk, Ohio. Together they raised a family and operated two successful businesses. Though they separated shortly before their 50th anniversary, they remained as endeared friends.
Marie was the proud mother of Mark Wallace, Glenn Wallace-Weitz (James), Teresa Hopkins (John), and Dawn Kernan (Steve). She was the ever-loving Grandmother of Echo and Corin Hopkins, Ashley Kernan-Moseley, Alex Kernan, Jenna Kernan-Harris, Emma Kernan, Marina Kernan, and Maggie Kernan and Great-Grandmother of George, James, and John Moseley, Ryleigh and Reagan Kernan, and Peyton and Tyler Harris.
As a lifelong professional genealogist, she dedicated herself to researching every known detail of family tree information for relatives and friends. In her final days, she was comforted in knowing that she would soon be with all of her ancestors!
She loved to travel, having visited 26 countries, particularly Hungary and Slovakia in order to visit her ancestral origins. She especially loved the crazy summers spent with family and friends in Bermuda.
She will be missed by many dear friends and loving neighbors, as well as over seventy Rotary exchange students around the world whom she hosted.
Special thanks to the staff at Holy Cross Trinity Hospice Care for helping our family discover a new level of compassion for Mom, specifically Ann, Dorothy, Diane, Susan, Greg and Drake. We are also eternally grateful to our dear cousin, Julie, who shared her spiritual gifts and gentle hands to help Mom in her transition.
Lastly, we would like to thank all the FedEx, UPS, and USPS delivery folks for their daily "visits." Mom will be sorely missed by Amazon.com and every self-help remedy company that exists on the Internet. The sound of that doorbell chime made her smile every time!
A private burial will take place at Monocacy Cemetery in Beallsville, MD.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in support of the Foundation for Women Warriors (https://foundationforwomenwarriors.org ) or Women Veterans Interactive Foundation (https://womenveteransinteractive.org).
******************
Parents:
- John Katonak [1914–1969]
- Esther (Geller) Lorcher [1917–1986]
Married Richard Gerard Wallace on September 24, 1960 in Norwalk, OH. {Div. 2008}
Children:
- Mark Alan Wallace [b. 1963]
- Glenn Richard Wallace [b. 1964]
- Teresa Marie Wallace [b. 1965]
- Dawn Elizabeth Wallace [b. 1966]
Obituary
Frederick News-Post, January 17 2024
Esther (Katonak) Wallace —Marie to all who knew and loved her— 85, departed on January 15, 2024 and now soars through the universe that she has always felt a strong connection to.
Born to the late John and Esther (Geller) Katonak on July 11, 1938 in Lorain, Ohio, she was the last surviving member of her family and now joins her sisters, Georgian, Katherine, and Lorraine.
She enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1958 and served as a Medical Administrative Specialist at Westover AFB in Massachusetts.
She married Richard Gerard Wallace on September 24, 1960 in Norwalk, Ohio. Together they raised a family and operated two successful businesses. Though they separated shortly before their 50th anniversary, they remained as endeared friends.
Marie was the proud mother of Mark Wallace, Glenn Wallace-Weitz (James), Teresa Hopkins (John), and Dawn Kernan (Steve). She was the ever-loving Grandmother of Echo and Corin Hopkins, Ashley Kernan-Moseley, Alex Kernan, Jenna Kernan-Harris, Emma Kernan, Marina Kernan, and Maggie Kernan and Great-Grandmother of George, James, and John Moseley, Ryleigh and Reagan Kernan, and Peyton and Tyler Harris.
As a lifelong professional genealogist, she dedicated herself to researching every known detail of family tree information for relatives and friends. In her final days, she was comforted in knowing that she would soon be with all of her ancestors!
She loved to travel, having visited 26 countries, particularly Hungary and Slovakia in order to visit her ancestral origins. She especially loved the crazy summers spent with family and friends in Bermuda.
She will be missed by many dear friends and loving neighbors, as well as over seventy Rotary exchange students around the world whom she hosted.
Special thanks to the staff at Holy Cross Trinity Hospice Care for helping our family discover a new level of compassion for Mom, specifically Ann, Dorothy, Diane, Susan, Greg and Drake. We are also eternally grateful to our dear cousin, Julie, who shared her spiritual gifts and gentle hands to help Mom in her transition.
Lastly, we would like to thank all the FedEx, UPS, and USPS delivery folks for their daily "visits." Mom will be sorely missed by Amazon.com and every self-help remedy company that exists on the Internet. The sound of that doorbell chime made her smile every time!
A private burial will take place at Monocacy Cemetery in Beallsville, MD.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in support of the Foundation for Women Warriors (https://foundationforwomenwarriors.org ) or Women Veterans Interactive Foundation (https://womenveteransinteractive.org).
******************
